| Country: | Rwanda |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 2010 Rwandan presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 2010 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Rwandan general election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | 4 August 2017 |
| Turnout: | 98.15% |
| Image1: | Paul_Kagame_MSC_2017_(cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paul Kagame |
| Party1: | Rwandan Patriotic Front |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,675,472 |
| Percentage1: | 98.79% |
| Nominee2: | Philippe Mpayimana |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 49,031 |
| Percentage2: | 0.73% |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Paul Kagame |
| Before Party: | Rwandan Patriotic Front |
| After Election: | Paul Kagame |
| After Party: | Rwandan Patriotic Front |
Presidential elections were held in Rwanda on 4 August 2017. The incumbent President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was re-elected to a third seven-year term,[1] allegedly with 98.79% of the vote on a 98.15% turnout.
A referendum in 2015 approved constitutional amendments that allow incumbent President Paul Kagame to run for a third term in office in 2017, as well as shortening presidential terms from seven to five years, although the latter change would not come into effect until 2024.[2]
The President of Rwanda is elected in one round of voting by plurality.[3]
Kagame announced that he would run for a third term in a televised address to mark the start of 2016, saying "You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept. But I don't think that what we need is an eternal leader."[4]
In February 2017, Philippe Mpayimana announced his candidacy as an independent candidate. A former journalist and author, he had lived outside Rwanda since 1994 and worked with humanitarian organisations.[5]
35-year-old businesswoman Diane Rwigara announced her candidacy, running as a critic of Kagame. Days after she launched her campaign, nude photos of Rwigara were leaked onto the Internet in an attempt to discredit her.[6] On 7 July the National Electoral Commission disqualified Rwigara and two other candidates on technical grounds,[7] alleging they had not collected enough valid signatures.[8] [9] The commission's decision was criticised by the US State Department and the European Union,[10] [11] while Amnesty International said that the election would be held in a "climate of fear and repression."[12]
Democratic Green Party of Rwanda leader Frank Habineza also declared his candidacy.
Following his victory, Kagame was sworn in for his third presidential term on 18 August 2017.[13]